Long-term outcome of surgical revascularization of supraaortic vessels

Axillo-axillary bypass with polytetrafluoroethylene graft for coronary subclavian steal syndrome

The purpose of this study is to report the results of axillo-axillary bypass (AAB) for coronary subclavian steal syndrome due to proximal subclavian artery occlusion. From 2003 to 2010, AAB using a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft was performed in 11 patients with coronary subclavian steal syndrome. There was no perioperative mortality, stroke or cardiac complications. Over a mean follow-up of 36 months (range: 6–81 months), all bypass grafts have remained patent. No patient developed recurrent symptoms of myocardial ischemia. One patient died from hemorrhagic stroke at 31 months. Our results showed that AAB using a PTFE graft provides an effective and durable treatment option for coronary subclavian steal syndrome when attempted endovascular therapy of the occluded proximal subclavian artery is unsuccessful.

A review of subclavian steal syndrome with clinical correlation

Subclavian 'steal' phenomenon is a function of the proximal subclavian artery (SA) steno-occlusive disease, with subsequent retrograde blood flow in the ipsilateral vertebral artery (VA). The symptoms from the compromised vertebrobasilar and brachial blood flows constitute the subclavian steal syndrome (SSS), and include paroxysmal vertigo, drop attacks and/or arm claudication. Once thought to be rare, the emergence of new imaging techniques has drastically improved its diagnosis and prevalence. The syndrome, however, remains characteristically asymptomatic and solely poses no serious danger to the brain. Recent studies have shown a linear correlation between increasing arm blood pressure difference with the occurrence of symptoms. Atherosclerosis of the SA remains the most common cause. Doppler ultrasound is a useful screening tool, but the diagnosis must be confirmed by CT or MR angiography. Conservative treatment is the initial best therapy for this syndrome, with surgery reserved for refractory symptomatic cases. Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting, rather than bypass grafts of the subclavian artery, is the widely favored surgical approach. Nevertheless, large, prospective, randomized, controlled trials are needed to compare the long-term patency rates between the endovascular and open surgical techniques.

Prevalence and impact of the subclavian steal syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and impact of subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) in patients undergoing assessment of the carotid arteries.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Vertebral artery flow reversal is often found among patients undergoing imaging of the extracranial vessels; however, there are no large studies evaluating the prevalence and natural history of SSS in stratified patients.

METHODS

Patients presenting for duplex ultrasound of the carotid arteries underwent 2 sets of bilateral arm pressure measurements. Patients with a pressure differential (PD) >20 mm Hg were examined in detail for vascular obstruction ipsilateral to the affected arm. When appropriate, computer tomographic angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography, and angiography were performed. Signs and symptoms related to SSS and the types of interventions performed were recorded.

RESULTS

In a period of 6 years, 7881 carotid duplex scans were performed, with a PD >20 mm Hg in 514 (6.5%) patients and a left arm preponderance (82%). SSS was complete in 61%, partial in 23%, and absent in 16%. Symptoms were present in 38 patients with 32 experiencing symptoms of the posterior circulation, 4 of arm ischemia, and 2 of cardiac ischemia. Symptoms occurred more frequently as the arm PD increased. Of the 38 symptomatic patients, only 7 underwent an intervention (2 with subclavian-carotid bypass and 5 with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty stenting of the subclavian).

CONCLUSIONS

SSS is a frequent finding in patients undergoing carotid duplex scanning. Patients are commonly asymptomatic and rarely require an intervention. A significantly elevated arm PD (>40-50 mm Hg) is more commonly associated with symptoms, complete steal, and the need for intervention.

Subclavian artery revascularization: an outcome analysis based on mode of therapy and presenting symptoms

Therapy for atherosclerotic occlusive subclavian arterial disease is undergoing a paradigm shift from open to endoluminal therapy. The aim of this study was to review the changing patterns of presentation and clinical outcomes based on presenting symptoms of subclavian artery revascularization. We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients treated for symptomatic atherosclerotic occlusive subclavian arterial disease from 1992 through 2006. Mean follow-up was 4 years. One hundred fourteen patients with a mean age of 63 years (range 33-89, 61% female) underwent 137 procedures. Of these, 89% had hypertension, 32% were diabetic, 69% had hyperlipidemia, and 13% had chronic renal insufficiency. Sixty-seven primary stent attempts (five technical failures) and 70 open (64 carotid-subclavian bypasses, six subclavian-carotid transpositions) were performed. No deaths occurred within the 30-day perioperative period. Fifty-seven percent of the patients presented with symptoms of arm ischemia: exertional pain (84%), rest pain (12%), and ulceration (4%). The assisted primary patency was 81 +/- 7% and 80 +/- 10% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Symptoms resolved in all patients, and none required major or minor amputations. Freedom from recurrent arm symptoms was 71 +/- 8% and 71 +/- 10% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Twenty-five percent of the patients presented with a cardiac indication: preparation for a left internal mammary artery (IMA) bypass in 61% and recurrent cardiac ischemia in the remainder. The assisted primary patency was 97 +/- 6% at 5 years. No IMAs were abandoned in this group, and the freedom from recurrent cardiac symptoms related to IMA distribution was 79 +/- 10% at 5 years. Eighteen percent of patients presented with posterior circulation symptoms secondary to vertebrobasilar disease. The assisted primary patency was 100 +/- 0% and 100 +/- 0% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Freedom from recurrent vertebrobasilar symptoms was 95 +/- 6% and 95 +/- 10% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Subclavian artery revascularization is safe and effective, but long-term outcomes are determined by the presenting symptomatology.

Myocardial thievery: the coronary-subclavian steal syndrome

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome entails the reversal of blood flow in a previously constructed internal mammary artery coronary conduit, which produces myocardial ischemia. The most frequent cause of the syndrome is atherosclerotic disease in the ipsilateral, proximal subclavian artery. Although coronary-subclavian steal was initially reported to be rare, the increasing documentation of this phenomenon and its potentially catastrophic consequences in recent series suggests that the incidence of the problem has been underreported and that its clinical impact has been underestimated. We review the causes and background of coronary-subclavian steal; methods of preventing, diagnosing, and treating it; and the potential influence of various treatment regimens on long-term survival and the likelihood of late adverse events in patients with coronary-subclavian steal syndrome.

Brachiocephalic reconstruction II: Operative and endovascular management of single-vessel disease

OBJECTIVE

Although the surgical management of brachiocephalic disease is well established, evolving endovascular techniques present new options for treatment. We explored the potential benefits and drawbacks of these interventions in terms of outcome.

METHODS

From 1966 to 2004, 391 consecutive patients (43.7% male; mean age, 61.9 years) with single-vessel brachiocephalic disease were treated with either operative bypass (group A; n = 229) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (group B; n = 162).

RESULTS

All patients were asymptomatic after surgery or endovascular intervention. Group A and group B had similar operative mortality (0.9% vs 0.6%) and stroke (1.3% vs 0%) rates. However, 5 years after the procedure, group A had significantly better freedom from graft or intervention failure (92.7% +/- 2.1%) than did group B (83.9% +/- 3.7%; P = .03, Kaplan-Meier analysis; P = .001, Cox regression analysis). At 10 years, group A had the following rates of actuarial freedom from specific events: death, 73.7% +/- 4.6%; myocardial infarction, 84.2% +/- 3.6%; stroke, 91.4% +/- 3.4%; graft failure, 88.1% +/- 3.3%; coronary revascularization, 69.8% +/- 5.1%; and other vascular operation, 70.7% +/- 4.6%. Endovascular intervention involved less initial cost (mean savings, $8787 per procedure), was less invasive, and did not necessitate general anesthesia. On satisfaction questionnaires, 96.5% of patients receiving an endovascular intervention and 95.1% of patients receiving operative bypass for single-vessel brachiocephalic disease subjectively rated their treatment as "good" or "very good."

CONCLUSIONS

Operative bypass and endovascular intervention for single-vessel brachiocephalic disease are both associated with acceptably low operative morbidity and mortality. Operative bypass produces significantly better mid-term freedom from graft or intervention failure than endovascular intervention and produces excellent long-term freedom from failure. Endovascular intervention offers tangible benefits regarding cost, level of invasiveness, and subjective patient satisfaction. Undetermined are the differences between the procedures regarding long-term durability, patterns of failure, efficacy as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass grafting, need for anticoagulation, efficacy as treatment for complex (multivessel) disease, and long-term cost.

Brachiocephalic reconstruction I: Operative and long-term results for complex disease

OBJECTIVES

Complex brachiocephalic disease involves multiple vessels and is frequently associated with multisystem atherosclerosis. We reviewed surgical outcome and examined the impact of this problem on decision making regarding operative staging, technique, and choice of conduit.

METHODS

Between 1966 and 2000, 157 consecutive patients (mean age, 54.0 years; 48.4% male) with innominate artery or multivessel brachiocephalic disease underwent operative reconstruction using either a transthoracic approach (group A, n = 113) or a less invasive, extrathoracic approach (group B, n = 44). Reconstruction required multiple distal anastomoses in 70 patients (44.6%), concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 37 patients (23.6%), and concomitant carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in 26 patients (16.6%).

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between group A and group B when operative mortality (2.7% vs 2.3%) and stroke rates (2.7% vs 6.8%) were analyzed. However, 10 years after surgery, freedom from graft failure was significantly better in group A (94.4% +/- 4.4%) than in group B (60.3% +/- 13.4%) ( P = .002). Freedom from graft failure was adversely affected by nonaortic inflow ( P = .002) and axillo-axillary cervical grafts ( P = .0001). Mortality and stroke rates for subgroups having multiple distal anastomoses (2.9%, 2/70 and 4.3%, 3/70), concomitant CABG (5.4%, 2/37 and 0, 0/37), and concomitant CEA (3.8%, 1/26 and 3.8%, 1/26) were similar to those of other patients. For the entire patient group, 10-year rates of actuarial freedom from specific events were death, 68.8% +/- 6.0%; myocardial infarction, 86.7% +/- 4.5%; stroke, 87.0% +/- 4.4%; coronary revascularization, 88.0% +/- 3.6%, and other vascular operation, 79.9% +/- 4.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Transthoracic arch reconstruction for complex brachiocephalic disease can be done with acceptably low morbidity and mortality similar to those of a less invasive, extrathoracic approach. Furthermore, the transthoracic approach is associated with significantly better long-term freedom from graft failure, possibly because it preserves aortic inflow to the great vessels. Nonetheless, the high frequency of late events in this relatively young patient population reflects the presence of multisystem atherosclerosis and suggests the need for close follow-up and lifestyle modification.